2009 is upon us

As 2009 comes on   we are not playing much as a duo.  Our daughter Hanna has taken up the clawhammer banjo since August.  She has been impressing everybody with the tunes I have taught her so far.  Of course there are high expectations for her and she seems to be very interested in playing and jamming.  I am thrilled to have someone who I can teach the versions of the  mountain standards  that I like to play on the fiddle.  I hope we can play together often as possible and maybe eventually play for a dance or at a fiddler's convention together. 

Jenny and I are planning to again sponsor a house concert this  year.  We have set  Saturday night February 14th as the night to feature our friends  the Herald Angels .  Members are Alice Gerrard, Kay Justice and Gail Gillespie.  These three are highly respected in the field of old-time country and traditional playing and singing.   We have  been accumulating email addresses to let  folks know the details.   Let me know if you want more info.

  Instead, of our house this time we are going to use a 'sacred space' ie, the old-timey feeling Burk's Fork Church of the Bretheren .  This 100+ year old structure  has all wood interior with padded benches and twin woodstoves for heat.   It has great acoustics and should be a fine venue for listening to the music.

As for ourselves  our Gig of the Year will be as a part of the traditional stage at Merlefest in April.  We plan to include our buddy Shay Garriock on fiddle.  Shay has been someone we have worked with on many occasions for serious programs as well as for flatfooters  at the Floyd Country Store on Friday nights occasionally.  He is featured on a couple of numbers on our CD 'Never Grow Old'  on the Mountain Fever label.

  Shay and I have been working on a recording  of banjo & fiddle  duets and songs to be released by April.  We have been into the same sources for years so our playing tend to be very tight.  We intend for it to showcase some versions from Virginia old-timers that we have learned from.  Check out   macandshaycd.homestead.com  for some samples.

There will be more to say later but check our calendar and come see us.

Tribute to the Carter Family

Finally,  I have an urge to update.  Although Jenny and my musical activity has been lower than usual this summer, we are looking forward to being a part of the Floyd Country Store's  'special' event on Sept 20th.  An evening of Carter Family music will feature grandson of AP and Sara, Dale Jett and his wife Teresa along with others.  The 'others' include Jenny and me along with Gary and Jackie Ferguson with Rhoda Kemp and her sister Iva Stillwell.  To top the evening off will be the duo of Jeremy Stevens and Darren Moore who will replicate the 'sound' of the Original Cater Family. They will demonstrate exactly how Sara and Maybelle played their instruments and sang on a whole set of numbers. I may even get to sing AP's part on a couple of numbers in their set.  Yay!

 So using my ipod I have been pumping into my head the music of the Carter Family that I got in a huge 12 CD collection from Floyd's own  County Sales at the bottom of Talley's Alley.  Its very interesting to  hear the details of their style which was so strong and captivating to the rural audience of the 20's and 30's.  Women should be proud to have been represented in such a high profile  and effective way especially in those days.  I am a huge fan of Maybelle's guitar innovations and her links to the black community from where she was influenced.  As a person who drawn to the rhythmic aspect of old-time music as opposed to the melodic I find their approach to backing up a song full of life and power.  If you are not already a fan of the Original Carter  Family I urge you to open your mind and listen to all aspects of their music from the 

words, the melody, the harmony, the autoharp rhythm and the various ways Maybelle chose to play her Gibson L-7 archtop with its top quality tone.  By the way she had it tuned 3 frets below standard to get those deep notes on certain songs.  

The story of their music is one thing but the story of how their popularity in the world of 

commercial music business affected their everyday lives is fascinating.   I recently read their biography entitled "Will You Miss Me When I'm Gone".  I recommend it to you as it will help anyone to understand  the way life was for them in such a rapidly changing time in America's history.  Visit your local library ASAP.